Recent Books
Comments from the author:
Because I've been ill recently, I've had time on my hands to read. The following are my views on some of the books that I've recently enjoyed (or suffered)...
Monday - 10th November - 2008 - Angel and Demons - Dan Brown
Dan Brown is a sort of Jeffrey Archer for grown ups.
This book is very much a Jeffwrey type story with lots of twists and turns and an improbable hero winning the battle (against almost all the evil forces ever thought of), and getting his girl, despite all the odds. The story describes how a mild academic defeats the Illuminati (a secret religous brotherhood), gets to meet the Pope (and the remains of the last, murdered Pope, as well), saves the world and wins his girl.
Dan Brown carries the story off rather better than Jeffery Archer would have done. This is possibly because....
Dan Brown did actually go to university (and thus, didn't have to lie about going to Oxford!)
• Has never, to my knowledge, consorted with prostitutes!
• Has never been involved in share purchasing scandals (think of Anglia TV).
• Has never been convicted of perjury (and has thus, never gone to jail!) Or..
• Perhaps it's because Mr Brown doesn't attemp to fill his books with all those "Look at me - see how clever I am" bits that Jeffwrey seems to love so much.
All in all, this is the sort of book that you would pack if you had to take a 10 hour ferry crossing from St. Malo, or perhaps, a 12 hour flight to a conference of retired proctologists at Staines.
The book won't actually hurt you; you may, indeed, learn a bit or two - this, in itself, differentiates it from a Jeffrey Archer Novel!
Having said that, if I were on that ferry (or on route to the Retired Proctologists Reunion), and had a choice of this book or a Jeffery Archer effort (chosen at random), I think that I would give them both a miss and spend my time far more productively, sticking rusty needles in my Todger!
Monday - 10th November - 2008 - Plan of Attack - Dale Brown
Disgraced maverick pilot discovers that the Russians are about to bomb the hell out of the USA and singlhandedly saves the world (against imporbable odds).
Not a hint of Jeffry Archer in this book; which has got to be a good thing!
There is, however, a little bit about a Kurdish airbase but.... the author cleverly avoids mentioning missing charity funds (sorry Jeffwrey - I just couldn't resist that one!)
My hat is off to Dale Brown who has managed to write an instantly forgettable book (which was quite enjoyable to read) without having to lie about going to Oxford, being the youngest MP ever elected or, trying to become the Mayor of London!
Would I read this book again? Well, upon reflection.... Where are those rusty needles?
Monday - 10th November - 2008 - The Veteran - Frederick Forsyth
A collection of clever, interesting and absorbing short stories by a clever and intelligent writer.
Each of the stories in this collection left me thinking for hours afterwards (unlike the short stories in "False Impression", by another author - which left me retching for hours on end afterwards!)
There is intricate detail, not only in the research of the subject, but in the clarity and choice of words that the author uses to enchant and entertain us.
I really can't recommend this book too highly - If you been suffering a diet of Dan Brown and Jeffrey Archer, this will seem like a Gourmet meal cooked by a Michelin 3 starred chef!
Monday - 10th November - 2008 - False Impression - Jeffrey Archer
This is a book by Jeffery Archer.
